Fifth Round (168th Overall)—Alex Hoffman-Ellis, OLB, Washington State

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Oakland Raiders 7-Round Mock

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The Silver and Black has seen a total makeover since the regime handed over the keys to general managerReggie McKenzie. The new GM addressed the club’s gameplan in a press conference for the upcoming 2012 NFL Draft earlier this month.

Considering the massive mess that was left when he entered the organization, McKenzie and company have cleaned house exceptionally well from the get-go. They went into the 2012 NFL Free Agency frenzy cap-strapped to the max, and the deck won’t be stacked in their favor for the draft, either.

Barring any trades, the team’s first pick will come late Saturday night on April 27 after 94 players have already been selected. Becoming the first decision-maker other than Al Davis since the early 60′s is a tough task for him and his staff.

Former head coach Hue Jackson sold the farm for quarterback Carson Palmer, which left Oakland without a first, second, third or fourth-round pick this April.

Nonetheless, the lack of picks in this year’s draft has just as much to do with the moves to get Richard Seymour from the New England Patriots for a second-round selection, the decision to get Terrelle Pryor in the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft and the trade for Jason Campbell in the 2012 NFL Draft in exchange for a fourth round pick (now with Chicago Bears).

Prior to the announcement of compensation selections, the Raiders were entering the three-day festivities with just two draft choices. Oakland now has five total picks, with one compensatory pick each coming from the third, fourth and fifth round.

Expect the team to continue to make more daunting decisions to try to strengthen the team’s chemistry and instill much-needed discipline as the 2012 NFL regular season inches increasingly closer.